10 Laptops to edit 8K videos like a pro in 2023 (April update)

If you're someone who likes to edit videos professionally and wants to take the leap to the next level, then you know that 8K video editing is becoming increasingly popular. With higher resolutions come higher file sizes and greater hardware demands. So, if you're wondering what laptop is the best for 8K video editing – this is the guide you've been looking for!

From processor speed to RAM and GPU, I'll be breaking down precisely what you need in a laptop to handle 8K video editing. Additionally, I'll take into consideration other significant aspects like screen quality and storage. After all, you don't want your precious footage to go missing because of insufficient disk space.

I've researched and compared various laptops and compiled a list of recommendations that cater to different budgets and editing needs. Whether you're a seasoned editor or just starting, this guide will help you make an informed decision when it comes to buying a laptop for 8K video editing. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let's get started!

Choosing the right processor for 8K video editing

When it comes to video editing, having a powerful processor is crucial. While the Apple M1 chip offers exceptional single-core performance and battery life, high-end Windows laptops with Intel or AMD processors and fast dedicated GPUs are preferable for 8K video editing.

While the CPU is still important for rendering and encoding, it is not always the bottleneck; in contrast, the GPU is frequently the limiting factor when working with 8K footage. Intel's hardware-accelerated encoding (QSV) achieves a better compression ratio than AMD's VCN, but software-level encoding is still viable and sometimes the only option.

When assessing notebook processors, general performance benchmarks like Cinebench and PassMark are essential, as they apply to all types of work. However, it is crucial to remember that when you find a fast processor in a low-cost laptop, it almost always means that the manufacturer has sacrificed RAM, SSD size, or, more often than not, display quality.

Here are some processor recommendations depending on your budget:

Processor	Budget	Expected Performance
Ryzen 5 6600H; i5-12450H	Minimum	Adequate for basic video editing
i7-12700H; Ryzen 7 6800H; Apple M1 Pro (or Max)	Recommended	Good performance for most video editing tasks
i9-12900HX; Ryzen 9 6900HX	High-end	Excellent performance for professional-level video editing

In conclusion, the right processor for your 8K video editing laptop will depend on your budget and the level of performance you need. Ensure you have a fast processor, ample RAM and storage, and a high-quality display to maximize your video editing capabilities.

Graphics for 8K video editing

In the world of laptop graphics cards, Nvidia continues to dominate. While the latest RTX 40 series cards are beginning to hit the shelves, the majority of the market still comprises the previous RTX 30 series. Desktop GPUs are now significantly more power-hungry, causing a gap between notebook and desktop graphics to widen. Furthermore, Nvidia has dropped the Max-Q label, meaning that determining a laptop's GPU wattage is left to the manufacturer, leading to a wide variance in graphics performance.

When it comes to 8K video editing, a dedicated GPU is practically a must-have. As resolutions increase, the GPU becomes increasingly essential, with 8K work also requiring video proxies, resulting in a lot of lightning-fast transcoding that the GPU can accelerate.

Choosing the right GPU for your laptop can be a challenging task. The close relationship between laptop graphics performance and CPU performance and power management means that each laptop must be tested independently to determine its performance level. Unfortunately, this isn't always feasible, so specifications and component-level benchmark scores, such as 3DMark, may have to be relied on.

If you're looking for a workstation laptop, it's best to ensure that it has at least one DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 3 port and possibly another HDMI port, depending on your setup. This is especially critical if you intend to connect more than one external display.

So, which GPU should you choose for 8K video editing? We recommend a minimum of an RTX 3060 Ti, while the RTX 3070 Ti and RX 6800M are recommended for better performance. For high-end requirements, the RTX 3080 Ti is a great choice.

Here is a table of median GPU specs by price range:

Price Range	GPU
Under $1,000	Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti
$1,000 to $1,500	Nvidia RTX 3060
$1,500 to $2,000	Nvidia RTX 3070
$2,000 to $3,000	Nvidia RTX 3080
Above $3,000	Nvidia RTX 3090

In conclusion, a dedicated GPU is essential for 8K video editing, and choosing the right one requires considering your budget and performance requirements. As always, we recommend reviewing benchmarks and specifications before making a decision.

Picking a good storage

SSDs have dominated the laptop storage market, with PCIe M.2 NVMe SSDs becoming the standard. When it comes to 8K video editing, storage space is of utmost importance. Video editing is known to consume all available storage space, making 1TB the starting point for SSD storage capacity, with no upper limit.

We recommend considering only NVMe SSDs. While SSD performance is adequate in almost every situation, high read/write speeds (over 3 GBps) are justified when importing 8K footage. However, most laptops do not come with top-of-the-line drives. One option is to purchase an extra M.2 SSD and install it yourself, as long as the available M.2 slot has four PCIe 4.0 lanes.

To compare different types of drives, use CrystalDiskMark, which measures actual performance. You can also consider TBW (Total Bytes Written) if you intend to cycle the footage frequently. However, don't rely on this metric blindly, especially if it's not from a well-known brand.

Consider allocating some of your budget to external drives for backups and archives, as most 15 and 17-inch laptops have two (or three) M.2 slots. Look into NAS systems if you're serious about keeping your data safe and organized.

In terms of storage capacity, we recommend a minimum of 1 TB, with 1.5 TB being the recommended capacity. For high-end laptops, 2 TB or more is ideal. When it comes to pricing, budget laptops come with 500 GB, mid-range laptops come with 1 TB, and high-end laptops (priced at $2k+) come with 2 TB of storage capacity.

When deciding on the right laptop SSD for 8K video editing, consider the storage capacity, the number of drives, the upgradability and external drives, SSD performance, and price per GB.

Choosing the right display for 8K video editing

When it comes to video editing, the display is one of the most crucial components. For editing 8K footage, you need the highest possible resolution, but that's not the only consideration. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a laptop display for 8K video editing.

Display Size for Video Editing

To edit 8K footage, you'll need a large display. A 15.6" or 17-inch laptop display is ideal for working with 8K content. While a 4K resolution is not mandatory, it is practical when working with 8K footage because it allows you to see more detail than a lower-resolution display.

Panel Types

When choosing a laptop display for video editing, you'll need to consider panel types. TN panels are not used for high-end displays, leaving only IPS and OLED panels to choose from. IPS panels are sufficient for most video editing, covering nearly 100% of the P3 color space. However, OLED panels lead in white-to-black contrast, while mini LED displays excel in brightness and HDR content.

Refresh Rate and Other Features

While high refresh rate screens are common in gaming laptops, they're not necessary for video editing. Adaptive sync and other bells and whistles are also not critical for video editing.

Color Accuracy and Gamut Coverage

To objectively compare different laptop displays, look for average brightness (cd/sq. m) and color gamut coverage as good indicators of picture quality. For video editing, you'll want a display that has high contrast and color accuracy with at least 85% P3 coverage.

Overview of What to Aim for Depending on Your Budget

For a minimum display specification, we recommend IPS, 300 nits, and 85% P3 coverage. For a recommended display specification, we suggest IPS, 350 nits, and 90% P3 coverage. For a high-end display, we recommend OLED or mini LED, 450 nits, and 98%+ P3 coverage.

In conclusion, choosing the right laptop display for 8K video editing is crucial for a smooth workflow. Make sure to consider the panel type, display size, color accuracy, and gamut coverage when making your selection.

5 Best Laptops for 8K video editing

Table of the Best Laptops for 8K video editing

Laptop	Price (approx)
MSI WE76 11UK
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4
ASUS ROG Strix Scar
Dell XPS 15 9520